Apparatus for flame hardening



Jan. 30, 1945. J. QBISHOP Erm. v

APPARATUS FORFLAME HADENING Filed Feb.Y 8, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 1 1 jan.30, 1945. .1. o. BISHOP ET AL APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING Filed Feb.8, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qm 5&2 u S Jam.I 30, 1945.A J. o. BISHOP Erm.

APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1941 Jan-30', 1.945- v o. BISHOP ET AL I 2,368,037

APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING @wop www i L ,3y Miha Jam.` 30, 1945.

J. O. BISHOP ET AL APPARATs Fon FLAME HARDENING Filed Feb.v 8, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 5 l ,mm

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1 M n my# Patented `lan. 30, 1945 APPARATUS FOR FLAME HARDENING `lames0. Bishop, Torrance, and Lloyd L. Babcock, Compton, Calif., assignors toThe National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application February 8, 1941, Serial No. 378,028

(Cl. 15S-27.4)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for surface hardening metal bylocal application upon the surface to be hardened of heat preferablyderived by the directing of a flame against the said surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide an,

apparatus for directing a continuous ribbon llame against a curved orpolygonal surface while causing relative transverse movement between theame and the surface, that is, transverse to the direction'of the ribbonor strip of flame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for flamehardening internal and external annular or angular surfaces, includflameagainst the surface and simultaneously directing supplementary airagainst the surface from both edges of the ribbon llame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for llamehardening the annular or angular surfaces which includes the provisionof means for the production of a continuous ribbon of flame extendingfor the full extent of the annular or angular surface to bellame-hardened.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: i

Figure 1 is a view diagrammatic in character of an apparatus utilized incarrying out my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view partially in section showing a portionof the apparatus and illustrating its application in the use as anexternal flame hardening device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrat-v ing the same in useas an internal flame hardening apparatus. f

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional end View taken substantially on theline 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional elevation of the internaltorch means embodied in our invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmental illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmental sectional elevation of a modified form ofinternal torch means.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the external torch meansillustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a fragmental plan .view of the torch means illustrated inFigure 9.

Figure 11 is a broken sectional eleva ion of the means provided forraising or lowering the torches. f

Figure l2 is a sectional end view taken substantially on the line |2-I2of Figure 11.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and as illustrated for carrying out the methodembodying our invention, there is shown internal and external ribbonname-producing means l and 2 `which produce a relatively narrow ribbonname which is directed against the entire surface to be flame-hardenedcovering an entire band of that surface simultaneously. In order toleffect the desired flame hardening of the surface either internally orexternally of the member acted upon, means are provided for effectingrelative movement between the ribbon flame producing means and the workas indicated at 3. The relative movement isin the direction to cause thesurface to move transversely of the ribbon of flame produced. Toaccomplish this end, either. the work 3 or the flame-producing means Iand 2 may be moved relative to the other of said members.

While we have illustrated our invention as particularly applied tomembers which .are generally of cylindrical form, it will be apparentthat the invention is equally applicable to use in connection withmembers having angular surfaces or of generally polygonal shape.

As our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the work 3is supported upon any suitable form of supporting plate 4 from a basestructure 5.

Means are provided preferably for rotating the work 3 as it is supportedupon the plate 4, and means as generally illustrated at 6 are providedfor rotating the work supporting plate 4 to which the work 3 isremovably clamped as illustrated at 1.

The ribbon ame producing means are also support-ig preferably from thebase 5 4upon a post 8 such manner as to permit their movement toward oraway from the base structure 5.

Supported upon the column or post 8 is a sleeve 9 carrying a supportingarm I0 on the plan view of the torch tact thedividing plate outer end ofwhich there is mounted a. cylinder II. Within the cylinder Il is apiston I2 connected with a piston rod I3. The piston rod I3 is securedto a supporting plate I4, which plate I4 is in turn secured to guiderods I5.

The guide rods I5 are secured to a guide plate I6 guided along the outerperiphery of the cylinder II by guide rollers I1. The' plate I4 issecured to an elbow iitting IB which provides for the support ofconcentrically disposed fluidconducting pipes I9, 20, 2| (Figure 6). Atthe lower end of these concentrically positioned pipes there issupported the circular torch 22.

The torch 22, as' illustrated in Figure 6, is an annular torch having anannular flame orince 23 producing a continuous annular ribbon flameoperative in conjunction with the torch raising and lowering means toflame harden the interior surface of a cylindrical or polygonal memberas illustrated at 3.

The torch 22 is constructed of an upper concave disc 24, an intermediateconcave disc 25, and a lower concave pin 26. A dividing plate 21 isinterposed between the discs 24 and 25 and as the assembly is securedtogether by means of the cap screws 28 and 29, the torch is divided intoa gas chamber 30, the water chamber 3|, and the air chamber 32. i

At the outer extremity of the gas and Water chamber the discs 24 and 25are provided with annular ribs 33 and 34, the faces of which con- 21. Atthe inner extremity of the chambers 30 and 3I, discs 24 and 25 areprovided with the annular ribs 35 and 36 through which the cap screws 29are extended to secure the torch to the manifold member 31 mounted atthe lower end of the concentrically disposed pipes I9 and 20. The innerof the concentrically disposed pipes 2| is the air conduit and extendsthrough the discs 24 and 25 with its end open in the air chamber 32, andis suitably secured as indicated at 38 to the intermediate disc 25. Theouter pipe I9 is secured to the manifold member 31 which provides apassage 39 extending through the annular rib 35 and through lateralports 40 into the water chamber 3|. The intermediate concentric pipe 20extends in the manifold member 31 beyond the passage 39 into the gaschamber 4I formed within the manifold member 31 and within the annulardisc 24 discharging through the series of gas ports 42 into the gaschamber 30.

Directing ports are formed through the annular ribs 33 and 34 leadingfrom the gas, water and air chambers, respectively, for properlydirecting the fluids with respectI to the annular orifice 23.

Formed in the lip 43 of the annular' disc 24 is an annular gas chamber44 to which gas is delivered from the chamber 30 by means of a pluralityof downwardly extending directing ports 45. Air is directed from the airchamber 32 by upwardly directing ports 46 formed through the annular rib34 directing the air for supporting combustion of the name produced atthe annular orice 23. The air is discharged preferably below the llameas the air as it is heated tendsto rise through the flame.

In order to provide for the proper ame hardening and cooling of theheated surface during the flame-hardening process, water or othersuitable quenching fluid is directed from the water chamber 3| outwardlyagainst the surface of the work 3 at a point slightly. spaced away fromthe point of contact of the ribbon flame produced from the annularoriilce 23.

The quenching fluid or water is directed from the water chamber 3l bythe circumferentially 5 spaced ports 41.

Any suitable lor desirable means may be provided for properly conductingthe desired fluids into the concentrically disposed pipes I9, 2|! and 2|and as herein illustrated, this means includes the elbow tting I8 whichis suitably secured to the upper ends of the concentric pipes I9 and 20and through which the inner concentric pipe 2| extends from a suitableheader 48 secured to the elbow tting I8 and provided as an extension ofl5 the plate I4 and providing the passage 49 for connection to asuitable air conduit 50.

The lateral branch of the elbow tting I8 is connected to theconcentrically disposed gas and water conduits 5|' and 52, respectively.The pipes 5| and 52 are connected to the coupling 53 through the mediumof which the concentrically disposed conduits are separated forindividual connection with the gas and water conduits 54 and 55,respectively. Additional supporting means may be provided for the outerends of the conduits 50, 5| and 52`, as indicated by the clamp 56supported by means of the cable 51 from the upper guide disc or plateIE.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylin- 'der II above and belowthe piston I2 so that the torch 22 may be raised and lowered to move theannular ribbon ame axially of the work 3, or in a. direction transverseof the direction of extent of the annular ribbon flame.

Means are provided for alternately supplying the fluid under pressure tothe opposite sides of the piston I2 within the cylinder II, whch meansmay be of any suitable or desirable construction `and is hereinillustrated as including a pair of manually controlled valves 58 mountedin the parallel feed pipes 59 which connect with the line 60 leading toone end of the cylinder II. Also mounted in the parallel feed lines 59are the electrically operated shut-off valves 6I.

The conduit 32 connected with the cylinder on the opposite side of thepiston I2 is connected through the medium of a cross-fitting 63 having afour-way valve 64 mounted therein with a pressure supply conduit 65 anda discharge or vent line 66. Ihe parallel supply pipes 59 are connectedwith an opposite branch of the cross-fitting, that is, opposite to thepoint of connection for the supply line 62. In addition to theconnection of this branch of the cross-iltting with the parallel supplylines 59, there is provided a bypass conduit 61 connected through themedium of the T 68 so that the valves 53 and 6I may be by-passed foremergency use. Normally this bypassed line is closed by means of a valve69. An electrical control panel 1n, including an on-andof! switch 1I andspeed control switches 12 and 13 is provided for actuating theelectrical connections to the valves 6| and to theelectric motorprovided for driving the drive connection 6 to the work-supportingplatform or plate 4.

Assuming that fluid is delivered under pressure through the pipe 65 andthe handle of the valve i4 has been moved to the position to admitpressure to the T fitting $8, actuation or one of the 70 switches 12 or13'resu1ts in one or the electrically operated valves 8| opening toallow nuid to pass through the corresponding control valve 5l to theline 60. Fluid pressure in the line il is aci-'- mitted into the lowerend of the cylinder I I, forcing the piston I2 upward, raising the torch22.

At the same time fluid in the cylinder above the piston I2 is expelledthrough the line 62 and passes through the valve 63 to the discharge orvent line 66. When it is desired to change the direction of movement ofthe torch, i. e., lower it relative to the work 3, it is only necessaryto change the position of the handle of the valve 64. This action servestoconnect the supply line 65 with the conduit 62, reversing thedirection of flow and causing the piston I2 to move downwardly, at whichtime fluid in the lower part of the cylinder II is expelled through theflow line 60 back through one of the parallel lines 59 to the valve 63and vent or discharge line 66. The purpose of providing the parallelmains 59 is to enable the use of two electrically controlled switches 6|for the slow or fast feed of the iiuid pressure to one side of thepiston I2; thus one of the regulating valves 58 is set for a relativelysmall opening and the other may be set for a relatively large opening,so that when one of the electric shut-off valves 6| is open, the rate ofiiow of fluid under pressure is determined by the setting of theregulating valve 58 in that main.

It will thus be apparent that the control system for the hydraulicsystem II just described enables the piston I2 to be moved at either oneor two preselected rates and in either direction. It

may be moved downwardly at a low rate and then retrieved upwardly at afaster rate if desired, and the only contro-ls that need be manipulatedby the operator to obtain the desired sequence of motion are theelectric switches 12 and I3 and the handle for the valve 60.

On the control board the switch 1I controls the supply of current to theelectric motor driving the transmission connection 6 for rotating thework support f3.

The operation of the torch 22 in conjunction with the apparatus asdescribed for moving the said torch and the work 3 is: The motor operateing the transmission drive 6 is set in operation to revolve the worksupport 4 and hence the work 3. During this operation, the torch 22 islowered to a point below the lower end of the work 3. Gas, air and waterare then admitted to the torch and the gas is ignited at the peripheralflame orifice 23. This forms a complete circular ribbon sheet of flame.'I'he handle of the valve 64 is shifted to the position which causesupward movement of the torch 22 and the switch 12 is actuated to producea slow even hydraulic a uniform surface hardness is produced on theinner surface of the work 3 without changing the physical properties ofthe base metal which underlies this surface. o

The modied form of torch is illustrated in Figure 8 and is similar tothe torch 22, so that simlar'numerals have been utilized vto designatethe structural components of this torch with the addition of an exponenta thereto. 'I'he structural differences of this torch and its certaindifferentiating features are that the torch 22a comprises a pair ofupper and lower concave discs 24a and 25 and a pair of intermediateplates |00a and |0|EL held in position by means of the cap screws 28aand 29E. Interposed between the plates |00a and I0 |8L is a dividingplate 21a.

The cap screws 29R are threaded into thetdistributor 31a into which theair, gas and water conduits I9?, 20B and 2|a are respectively threadedlyconnected.

Cooling water from the pipe I9a enters the distributor 31P- and passesthrough the ports I2a into the cooling water chamber 3|a and downthrough the vertical annular passage |02a and downwardly directeddischarge orifices 41a.

Combustible gas enters the distributor 3la from the pipe 20a and passesthrough the ports 40a into the annular gas chamber 30a. The dividingplate 21a is cut away as indicated at |03a in the gas chamber 30E sothat gas in this chamber extends both above and below the dividing plate21a. The gas flows from the chamber 30a through the ports |04B into anauxiliary gas chamber |05a formed within the plate |00a below thedividing plate 21a. The gas or combustible gas mixture flows from thechamber |05l into the annular gas recess 44a from which it escapesthrough the completely annular ame orifice 23a.

' Air under pressure reaches the distributor 31a through the centralpipe Zia, which pipe extends into the distributor 31a to connect withthe port |06a leading to the air chamber 32a. The air leaves the airchamber 32a in such manner that its passage is divided to deliver theair both above and below the annular ribbon flame produced at theannular flame orifice 23a.

The bore holes for the cap screws 282l formed through the plates |00aand |0|a are enlarged to provide the passage |01a from which ports |08alead into an auxiliary air chamber |0911. From chamber |09n air passesthrough the ports I0a to the upper air orifices I Ia. Air also leavesfrom the bore holes |01*1 through the chamber 99a formed in the plate|00@L and through the ports ||221 and hence out through the air orifices||3a formed below the llame orifice 23a.

It will be observed that the ports |a and I3n are complete annularorifices to which the air is admitted from the ports I |0a and |I2a andthat because ofthis construction, the air is delivered in two flatsheets both above and below the annular gas orice 238.

It will be apparent; from the foregoing that this type of constructioninsures very complete supplemental air supply for insuring very completeand eflicient combustion of the gas emitted from the flame orifice 23B.It has been found that this insures a completely circular flame, the

temperature of which is extremely high.

As in the case of the previously set forth description of operation,when the torch 22a is progressed upwardly,- the cooling water froml theports 41EL quenches the previously heated surface, thereby producing ahardened surface.

As will be apparentfrom Figure 1, the flame hardening means utilized incarrying out our invention may be of either the internal or externalllame directed type so that if desired both the inner and outer surfacesof the work 3 may be simultaneously hardened or either of such surfacesmay be hardened or they may be hardened sequentially.

The internal ame producing means 2 includes the torch 14 which in thiscase is provided with a central circular opening 15 for the reception ofthe work 3. The 'torch 14 comprises a. pair of annular ring members 16and 11 separated by a dividing plate 18 and held assembled by means ofcap screws 19. There is thus formed within the torch annular gas andwater chambers 80 and 8|, respectively.

A plurality of ports 82 extend from the gas chamber 80 into an annularrecess 83 formed` between the rings 16 and 11.

A completely circular flame orifice 84', of the slit type, leads fromthe annular recess 83.

As in the case of the external torch, the gas when ignited at thisorifice 84 forms an annular ribbon sheet of ame which completelyencircles the work 3.

Ports 85, of which there are a multiplicity around the interior of thering 11, are directed downwardly from the water chamber 8| for directingwater against the previously heated surface of the work 3. A pair ofcooperating iittings 8B and 81 are clamped together by means of thebolts 88 and 89 and serve as the means for introducing the gas and waterinto their respective chambers from the supply conduits 90 and 9|,respectively.

A clamp 92 engages the conduits 90 and 9| and this clamp is supportedfrom a rod 93 which depends from the pipe 52. (See Figure 1.)

As this torch 14 is not operated within a confined space, it has beenfound that atmospheric air is generally suicient to produce propercombustion and it is therefore not essential to provide a supplementaryair means in the torch 14. It will be apparent, however, that if it isfound necessary or desirable to introduce seco ndary air in the internaltype of torch as thus defined, that the same may be introduced insubstantially the same manner as described in connection with the torch22.

In some cases it has been found that it is desirable to applyheat to theoutside of the work 3 and to quench it from the inside. Obviously as thestructure is illustrated, this may be accomplished utilizing theinterior directing torch means 14 as the heating means and introducngthe quenching fluid at the interior of the work 3 from the torch 22.rior heating and exterior quenching may also be accomplished through thereverse use of these torches.

The types of torches above described have been designed for flamehardening cylindrical surfaces.

As an example of a torch for flame harden` ing polygonal-shapedsurfaces, Figures 3 and 5 show ahexagonal torch 94 adapted to enter ahexagonal bore. The construction of this torch 9| may be identical witheither torch heretofore described with the exception that its exteriorconfiguration is hexagonal rather than circular. The operation of thistorch is similar to the other Obviously intef tible gas slit.

torches with the exception that the work is not rotated during the flamehardening process.

In each case the aix', water and gas supply conduits may be connected toany suitable sources of air, water or gas, for example, they may beconnected to a control stand of the type illustrated in Figure 1 of thedrawings of the copendlng application of James O. Bishop, et al., SerialNo. 350,196, now Patent No. 2,321,645, June 15,1943, by which device theproper pressures, rates of ow and combustible mixtures may be providedand maintained.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but ourinvention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a. torch device of the class described, the combination of upperand lower plate-like discs, an annular spacer means between said discsand forming with the discs and annular seal, the outer diameter of thespacer means being smaller than the diameter of the discs, whereby thereis formed an annular recess defined by the periphery of the spacer meansand by the portions of the discs extending therebeyond, which recessforms a combustion chamber, the spacer means being formed to provide acombustible gas` passage terminating in an annular slit through whichcombustible gas is delivered at the periphery of the spacer means insaid recess, said spacer means providing Iwith the disc members portswithin. the annular discs for the delivery of a combustion supportinggas in annular sheets above and below the combustible gas slit andwithin the annular recess, whereby the combustible flame produced by thetorch burns within the annular recess.

2. In an annular torch device, the combination of upper and'lowerplates, a spacer means positioned between the plates and forming withthe plates a seal, the spacer means defining an annular slit for thedischarge of combustion gases; the spacer means being of a diameter lessthan the plates so that. its periphery defines the inner wall of anannular recess defined by the projecting edges of the disc, means fordelivering combustion gas to the spacer means to be discharged throughthe annular slit thereof at the base of the annular recess, and meansbetween the discs for conducting combustion supporting gas to the upperand lower surfaces of the annular recess, annular combustion support inggas discharge passages defined between the discs and the spacer means atthe upper and lower surfaces of said recess and through which saidpassages combustion supporting gases may pass in sheets upon oppositesides of the combus- JAMES O. BISHOP. LLOYD L. BABCOCK.

